SAN JOSE — A 22-year-old San Jose man has been identified as the driver arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after getting into an apparent drunken driving crash that killed his passenger, according to San Jose police.

Steven A. Croft, 22, is being held on $275,000 bail in the Santa Clara County jail where he was booked for vehicular manslaughter and DUI in connection with the early Sunday wreck that killed 20-year-old San Jose resident Nestor Garcia.

Police say Croft was driving a red 2002 Ford Mustang near Branham Lane and Snell Avenue around 3:35 a.m. when he lost control and crashed into two trees. Garcia and two other passengers were taken to the hospital, where Garcia was pronounced dead.

Croft, described as having suffered moderate injuries, was taken straight to jail, Officer Albert Morales said. The two surviving passengers were treated and released.

Traffic investigators believe driving speed and alcohol were factors in the collision, Morales said. It marked the city’s third traffic fatality of the year.

Robert Salonga covers crime and public safety for the Bay Area News Group and is based at The Mercury News. A San Jose native, he has a bachelor's degree from UCLA and a Master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland-College Park, but remains a Bruin at heart. His prior reporting stops include Washington, D.C. and Salinas. He is also a middling triathlete whose sole race goal is to be upright at the end. Contact Robert at 408-920-5002.

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